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This article is about the 1985 film. For other uses of the title, see To Live and Die in L.A. (disambiguation).
To Live and Die in L. A.

Theatrical poster
Directed byWilliam Friedkin
Produced byExecutive Producer:
Samuel Schulman
Producer:
Irving H. William Friedkin (born August 29 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award-winning American movie and television director Levin
Bud S. Smith
Written byStory:
Gerald Petievich
Screenplay:
William Friedkin
Gerald Petievich
StarringWilliam L. Petersen
Willem Dafoe
John Pankow
Dean Stockwell
John Turturro
Music byWang Chung
CinematographyRobby Müller
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)November 1, 1985
Running time116 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

To Live and Die in L. William Friedkin (born August 29 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award-winning American movie and television director William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated American Actor and producer best known for playing William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage John Pankow is an American film and stage Actor. Biography Early life He was born on April 28, 1954[http //www Dean Stockwell (born March 5, 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Emmy Award -nominated Cannes Award and Golden Globe John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L Wang Chung are a British New Wave Musical group. The group found their greatest success in the United States with five Top 40 hits including Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A. (1985) is a American neo-noir crime film directed by William Friedkin and based on the novel written by former Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich, who co-wrote the screenplay with Friedkin. Events 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Neo-noir (from the Greek Neo, new and the French noir black is a type of Motion picture that prominently utilizes elements of Film A crime film, in the most general sense is a Film that involves various aspects Crime and the Criminal justice system William Friedkin (born August 29 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award-winning American movie and television director A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story The drama features William L. Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Turturro, John Pankow, among others. William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated American Actor and producer best known for playing William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L John Pankow is an American film and stage Actor. Biography Early life He was born on April 28, 1954[http //www Wang Chung composed and performed the original music soundtrack. Wang Chung are a British New Wave Musical group. The group found their greatest success in the United States with five Top 40 hits including [1]

The film tells the story of the lengths to which two Secret Service agents go to arrest a counterfeiter. A counterfeit is an imitation that is made usually with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins

Contents

Plot

Richard Chance (Petersen) is a Secret Service agent for the U.S. Treasury with a reputation in the department for reckless behavior. The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department and the Treasury of the United States government.

His partner, Jimmy Hart (Michael Greene) is days away from retirement, but takes on one last mission to investigate counterfeiter Rick Masters (Dafoe). After Hart is killed by Masters' bodyguard, Chance is outraged and seeks revenge. Chance explains his outlook to his new partner, John Vukovich (Pankow) this way:

Let me tell you something, amigo. I'm gonna bag Masters, and I don't give a shit how I do it.

The two T-men try to track down Masters, to no avail. Chance and Vukovich finally engage Masters by posing as potential counterfeiting clients interested in Masters' services.

Chance and Vukovich eventually break the law in their relentless pursuit of Masters. In order to get enough money to convince Masters that they are "real" clients, they kidnap and steal the money from a man who, unbeknownst to them, is an undercover F.B.I. agent. In a wild chase thought the streets and freeways of Los Angeles, the F. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West B. I. agent is shot to death.

Later, Chance once again meets with Masters, and pays him the "front money" that Masters has requested. The two agents go through with the transaction, even when Masters implies that he knows they stole the money from the F. B. I. undercover agent. During a set-up transaction, Chance tries to arrest Masters and his bodyguard, but the bodyguard pulls a shotgun from a locker and shoots Chance in the face, at the same time Chance shoots the bodyguard in the chest. They both die.

Masters briefly gets away, but Vukovich gives chase, eventually locating Masters at a warehouse Masters uses to produce his counterfeit money. At the time of Vukovich's arrival, Masters has already set fire to the contents of the warehouse. Vukovich confronts Masters and during a brief struggle, Vukovich is knocked unconscious. Masters covers Vukovich with shredded paper and just before Masters lights Vukovich on fire, Vukovich recovers and shoots Masters, who then drops his lighter and lights himself ablaze in the process. Vukovich survives and Masters perishes in the blaze.

In the event of Masters' death, Grimes (Masters' attorney) gives his estate to his girlfriend, Bianca. Without showing much remorse, she rides away in Masters' black Ferrari with a co-worker named Serena, whom they had a threesome with earlier in the film. In the last scene, Vukovich pays Chance's informant, Ruth, a visit, just as she's packing up to leave L. A. , for good. He mentions Chance's death, that she knew the man they stole the advance money from was FBI, and that Chance left her with the leftover front money that his agency now wants back. All this leads to a surprise for Ruth: "You're working for me now". And with that, Chance lives on through Vukovich.

Background

Detective Chance and snitch Ruth.
Detective Chance and snitch Ruth.

The climactic scene in which Chance is killed was not very well-received by MGM executives, according to William Friedkin on the Special Edition DVD. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is To satisfy the studio heads, he shot a second ending, in which Chance is shot in the stomach and lives, and then a different scene in which Chance and Vukovich, for reasons unexplained, are transferred to Alaska, and watch their boss Thomas Bateman being interviewed on television. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Friedkin was disgusted by the new ending, and kept the original. [2]

The backwards car chase on a Los Angeles freeway was William Friedkin's attempt to outdo the car chase from his 1971 film, The French Connection. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The year 1971 in film involved some significant events Events February 8 - Bob Dylan 's hour long documentary For other uses see The French Connection. The French Connection is a 1971 Hollywood Crime film directed [3]

The shot of William L. Petersen running along the metal railings of a moving sidewalk at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) got the filmmakers into trouble with the airport security. Los Angeles International Airport is the primary Airport serving Los Angeles, California, the second-most populated metropolitan area of The airport had prohibited this action, mainly for Petersen's safety, as they felt that their insurance wouldn't have covered him had he hurt himself.

Willem Dafoe as Rick Masters making fake money.
Willem Dafoe as Rick Masters making fake money. William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage

Though the film's producers utilized the knowledge of a convicted counterfeiter on the shoot, they claimed that they "stretched the law" by doing so, and by creating what some on the set claim to be "actual" counterfeit money, at least some—and perhaps all—currency used in the film reads "This note is not legal tender for all debts, public and private. A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is " This is most noticeable during a close-up shot when Agent John Vukovich erases a bill on an LAX ticket counter. In Film, Television, and Still photography a close-up tightly frames a person or an object Los Angeles International Airport is the primary Airport serving Los Angeles, California, the second-most populated metropolitan area of

Filming locations
Parts of the film were shot in Los Angeles: Nickerson Gardens in Watts, and parts of East Los Angeles. Nickerson Gardens is a 1054-unit public housing apartment complex at 1590 East 114th Street in Watts, Los Angeles, California. Watts is a residential district in southern Los Angeles California (more specifically part of South Los Angeles) East Los Angeles can refer to East Los Angeles California (unincorporated community East Los Angeles (region

Other locations include: Los Angeles International Airport; Malibu; Union Station, Los Angeles; Vincent Thomas Bridge, San Pedro; and Wilmington, Los Angeles. Malibu is an incorporated city in western Los Angeles County, California, United States. The Vincent Thomas Bridge is a long Suspension bridge crossing the Los Angeles Harbor in the U San Pedro is a beach community within Los Angeles California, USA Wilmington California is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, with industry as its primary economic activity

Cast

Critical reception

Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, liked the film's screenplay, the action, the acting, and the direction, and wrote, "[T]he movie is also first-rate. William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated American Actor and producer best known for playing William J "Willem" Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is a three-time Academy Award -nominated American Film and stage John Pankow is an American film and stage Actor. Biography Early life He was born on April 28, 1954[http //www John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American Actor noted for his performances in To Live and Die in L Darlanne Fluegel (born 25 November 1958) is an American Actress. Dean Stockwell (born March 5, 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Emmy Award -nominated Cannes Award and Golden Globe Steve James ( February 19, 1952 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor Jane Leeves (born April 18, 1961) is a Screen Actors Guild Award winning English actress best known for her work as Daphne Moon Roger Joseph Ebert (iːbɝt born June 18, 1942) is an American film critic and Screenwriter. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. The direction is the key. Friedkin has made some good movies. . . and some bad ones. This is his comeback, showing the depth and skill of the early pictures. The central performance is by William L. Petersen, a Chicago stage actor who comes across as tough, wiry and smart. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. He has some of the qualities of a Steve McQueen, with more complexity. Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen (March 24 1930 – November 7 1980 was an American movie Actor, nicknamed "The King of Cool" Another strong performance in the movie is by Willem Dafoe as the counterfeiter, cool and professional as he discusses the realities of his business. "[4]

Critic Janet Maslin was dismissive of the film, and wrote, "Today, in the dazzling, superficial style that Mr. Janet Maslin (born 1948 is an American Journalist. She is best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times Friedkin has so thoroughly mastered, it's the car chases and shootouts and eye-catching settings that are truly the heart of the matter. " She also thought the work of Willem Dafoe would be forever typecast by this film when she added, "he's a fine actor with a face that will bring him villain's work forever. "[5]

Wesley Morris, critic for The San Francisco Examiner, wrote in 1999 the film was Friedkin's best moment in filmmaking, "Sure, the Reagan-era exoticization of painters and extras salivating over the cash they count are as dated as the Wang Chung synth score, but To Live and Die in L. The San Francisco Examiner is a US daily Newspaper. It has been published continuously in San Francisco, California, since Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) A. is as urgent and exhilaratingly paced as anything William Friedkin's done . . . Some of the best crook-on-crook, cop-on-crook banter there ever was and John Turturro's best cursing in a motion picture . . . the six-lane rush-hour car chase that would make Popeye Doyle crash and burn . . . The only problem is that Friedkin would never get any better than this. "[6]

The staff at Variety magazine were not impressed with the film and wrote that it was over the top, "To Live and Die in L. Variety is a weekly entertainment trade newspaper founded in New York in 1905 by Sime Silverman A. looks like a rich man's Miami Vice. Miami Vice is an American Television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. William Friedkin's evident attempt to fashion a West Coast equivalent of his 1971 The French Connection is engrossing and diverting enough on a moment-to-moment basis but is overtooled . The year 1971 in film involved some significant events Events February 8 - Bob Dylan 's hour long documentary For other uses see The French Connection. The French Connection is a 1971 Hollywood Crime film directed . . Friedkin keeps dialog to a minimum, but what conversation there is proves wildly overloaded with streetwise obscenities, so much so that it becomes something of a joke. [Pic is based on the novel by Gerald Petievich, who co-scripted. ]"[7]

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 86% of critics gave the film a "Fresh" rating, based on twenty-two reviews. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. [8]

Distribution

The producers used the following tagline to market the film:

A Federal Agent is dead. A killer is loose. And the City of Angels is about to explode.

The film premiered in the United States on November 1, 1985. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) It was screened at various film festivals, including: the Cognac Festival du Film Policier, France; the Noir in Festival, Italy; the Turin Film Festival, Italy; and others. The Festival du Film Policier de Cognac ( English: Cognac Police Film Festival) is a film festival that has taken place since 1982 with no festival being held in 1991 This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest

The movie was banned in Norway in theaters when it was first released and this lasted until 2003 (it was available in video with an 18 rating in 1987). Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The film had to be cut in Finland to obtain a K-16 rating at the time of release. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe.

DVD release
A DVD was released by MGM Entertainment on December 2, 2003. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The DVD contains: a new restored wide-screen transfer, an audio commentary featuring director Friedkin where he relates stories about the making of the movie, a half-hour documentary featuring the main characters, a deleted scene that involves actor John Pankow, and an alternate ending Friedkin refused to use. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality [9]

Soundtrack

Album cover.
Album cover.
Main article: To Live and Die in L.A. (soundtrack)

An original motion picture soundtrack was released on September 30, 1985, by Geffen Records. The To Live and Die in LA soundtrack is Wang Chung's third album and second on Geffen Records. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Geffen Records is an American Record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label The album contained eight tracks. The album’s title song, "To Live and Die in L.A.," made it on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at #41 in the United States. " To Live and Die in LA " is a single from the soundtrack of the same name by Wang Chung.

William Friedkin chose Wang Chung to compose the soundtrack because the band "stands out from the rest of contemporary music. . . What they finally recorded has not only enhanced the film, it has given it a deeper, more powerful dimension. " This note was included in the album's back cover. [10]

Awards

Wins

References

Notes

  1. ^ To Live and Die in L.A. at the Internet Movie Database.
  2. ^ To Live and Die in L. A. , Special Edition DVD, 2003. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
  3. ^ Crowley Michael K. "Watching Under the Influence: To Live and Die in L. A. ," film analysis, August 12, 2004. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
  4. ^ Ebert, Roger. The Chicago Sun-Times, film review, November 1, 1985. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar)
  5. ^ Maslin, Janet. The New York Times, film review, "From Friedkin," November 1, 1985.
  6. ^ Morris, Wesley. The San Francisco Examiner, film review, ""To Live and Die in L. A. ': Friedkin's finest hour," April 16, 1999. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Last accessed: December 28, 2007. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  7. ^ Variety. Film review, November 1, 1985. Last accessed: December 28, 2007.
  8. ^ To Live and Die in L.A. at Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. Last accessed: January 22, 2008. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  9. ^ Reel Film Reviews. DVD review, December 3, 2003. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
  10. ^ Wang Chung web site. Last accessed: December 6, 2007. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

External links


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